Archaeologist opens tomb of King Tut - Feb 16, 1923 - HISTORY.com King Tut's mummy was unearthed by archeologist Howard Carter, Fidel Castro became dictator of Cuba, the first 911 system became available, and the Kurds seized embassies across Europe in This Day in History video. The date is February 16th. Lead Story Archaeologist opens tomb of King Tut Share this: Archaeologist opens tomb of King Tut Author Archaeologist opens tomb of King Tut URL Publisher A+E Networks On this day in 1923, in Thebes, Egypt, English archaeologist Howard Carter enters the sealed burial chamber of the ancient Egyptian ruler King Tutankhamen. Because the ancient Egyptians saw their pharaohs as gods, they carefully preserved their bodies after death, burying them in elaborate tombs containing rich treasures to accompany the rulers into the afterlife. In the 19th century, archeologists from all over the world flocked to Egypt, where they uncovered a number of these tombs. Many had long ago been broken into by robbers and stripped of their riches.

When Carter arrived in Egypt in 1891, he became convinced there was at least one undiscovered tomb–that of the little known Tutankhamen, or King Tut, who lived around 1400 B.C. and died when he was still a teenager. Backed by a rich Brit, Lord Carnarvon, Carter searched for five years without success. In early 1922, Lord Carnarvon wanted to call off the search, but Carter convinced him to hold on one more year. In November 1922, the wait paid off, when Carter’s team found steps hidden in the debris near the entrance of another tomb. The steps led to an ancient sealed doorway bearing the name Tutankhamen. When Carter and Lord Carnarvon entered the tomb’s interior chambers on November 26, they were thrilled to find it virtually intact, with its treasures untouched after more than 3,000 years. The men began exploring the four rooms of the tomb, and on February 16, 1923, under the watchful eyes of a number of important officials, Carter opened the door to the last chamber.

Inside lay a sarcophagus with three coffins nested inside one another. The last coffin, made of solid gold, contained the mummified body of King Tut. Among the riches found in the tomb–golden shrines, jewelry, statues, a chariot, weapons, clothing–the perfectly preserved mummy was the most valuable, as it was the first one ever to be discovered. Despite rumors that a curse would befall anyone who disturbed the tomb, its treasures were carefully catalogued, removed and included in a famous traveling exhibition called the “Treasures of Tutankhamen.” The exhibition’s permanent home is the Egyptian Museum in Cairo. Related Videos February 16, 1923 : Archaeologist opens tomb of King Tut Introduction On this day in 1923, in Thebes, Egypt, English archaeologist Howard Carter enters the sealed burial chamber of the ancient Egyptian ruler King Tutankhamen. Because the ancient Egyptians saw their pharaohs as gods, they carefully preserved their bodies after death, burying them in elaborate tombs containing rich treasures to accompany the rulers into the afterlife.

In the 19th century, archeologists from all over the world flocked to Egypt, where they uncovered a number of these tombs. Many had long ago been broken into by robbers and stripped of their riches. When Carter arrived in Egypt in 1891, he became convinced there was at least one undiscovered tomb–that of the little known Tutankhamen, or King Tut, who lived around 1400 B.C. and died when he was still a teenager. Backed by a rich Brit, Lord Carnarvon, Carter searched for five years without success. In early 1922, Lord Carnarvon wanted to call off the search, but Carter convinced him to hold on one more year. In November 1922, the wait paid off, when Carter’s team found steps hidden in the debris near the entrance of another tomb. The steps led to an ancient sealed doorway bearing the name Tutankhamen. When Carter and Lord Carnarvon entered the tomb’s interior chambers on November 26, they were thrilled to find it virtually intact, with its treasures untouched after more than 3,000 years.

The men began exploring the four rooms of the tomb, and on February 16, 1923, under the watchful eyes of a number of important officials, Carter opened the door to the last chamber. Inside lay a sarcophagus with three coffins nested inside one another. The last coffin, made of solid gold, contained the mummified body of King Tut. Among the riches found in the tomb–golden shrines, jewelry, statues, a chariot, weapons, clothing–the perfectly preserved mummy was the most valuable, as it was the first one ever to be discovered. Despite rumors that a curse would befall anyone who disturbed the tomb, its treasures were carefully catalogued, removed and included in a famous traveling exhibition called the “Treasures of Tutankhamen.” The exhibition’s permanent home is the Egyptian Museum in Cairo.

Article Details: February 16, 1923 : Archaeologist opens tomb of King Tut Author February 16, 1923 : Archaeologist opens tomb of King Tut URL February 16, 1923 - Howard Carter opens the burial chamber of Pharaoh Tutankhamun - On this day in History Things to do in Los Angeles February 16 1923 - Howard Carter opens the burial chamber of Pharaoh Tutankhamun The New York Times called February 16, 1923, “perhaps, the most extraordinary day in the whole history of Egyptian excavation” – on this day celebrated Egyptologist and noted archeologist, Howard Carter, unsealed and opened the burial chamber of the 14th century pharaoh King Tutankhamun in the tomb popularly referred to as KV62 in the Valley of Kings near Cairo in Egypt. The tomb came to be known for many of its unique features.

Apart from being one of the best preserved tombs in the valley till this day, it also became known for the stupendous hoard of treasures that it contained, despite estimates that an ancient robbery relieved the tomb of about 60% of the wealth that was interred here with the boy king Tut. The history and mysterious civilization of ancient Egypt has been the matter of intense study, research, and debate since the early 20th century. The ancient Egyptian rulers, Pharaohs, considered themselves representatives of the Sun God, Ra. They prepared for their death and burial even as they ascended the throne – building elaborate tombs, designating treasures and significant prizes that were to be buried with them. The designing, building, and consecrating of these tombs took many years – each king trying to outdo his predecessor. The tombs provided archeologists amazing insights into the religion, culture, language, and lifestyle of ancient Egypt and provided tomb raiders access to some of the most precious artifacts, jewelry and treasures known to mankind. King Tutankhamun, the boy king of the 18th Dynasty, reigned between 1332 BC and 1323 BC.

There has been much speculation regarding the cause of his death but a chariot accident seems the most likely cause. King Tutankhamun’s tomb had been the subject of investigation for many decades. The British archeologist Edward Russell Ayrton uncovered a pit in the Valley of Kings in 1907. It contained remnants of some pots and dishes and other artifacts that were ascribed to Tutankhamun. Mr. Ayrton and his American sponsor, Theodore M. Davis, then declared that they had found Tutankhamun’s tomb. The artifacts are now New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art. After a few years of research, Herbert Winlock, the curator of the Met inferred that the pit was not Tutankhamun’s tomb but a pit with the remnants of the king's funeral and that the original tomb would be found in the vicinity. Taking a cue from Winlock’s research, English archeologist Howard Carter started to look for King Tut’s tomb in the region in 1914. Howard Carter had been working in Egypt for 31 years when he discovered King Tut's tomb.

In 1899, Carter became the Inspector-General of Monuments in Upper Egypt and in 1907, the fifth Earl of Carnarvon, George Herbert, started to fund Carter's expeditions. For nearly seven years, Carter was unsuccessful in finding the tomb and Lord Carnarvon considered calling off the expedition. Carter convinced him to fund one more year. On November 4, 1922, the archeologist discovered the door to King Tut’s tomb and sent for Lord Carnarvon. After three weeks of excavation work, they unearthed a second sealed door. Carter made a crack wide enough to peep through. In candle light, he noticed the golden gleam of the treasures that were buried in the chamber. Over 2000 pieces of golden statues, jewelry, clothing, perfumes, chariots, and other artifacts were found there. After three painstaking months of cataloging and removing these, Carter finally opened the sealed door to the burial chamber on February 16, 1923. The brilliant chamber was inlaid in gold and blue faience.

The next eight months were spent in removing the objects present here including Tutankhamun’s sarcophagus which contained his mummy. Most of these objects are now on display at the Egyptian Museum in Cairo. The walls were adorned with images from Egyptian mythology and hieroglyphics from ancient texts. Egyptian gods – Hathor, Isis, Osiris, and Anubis were shown welcoming the king to the pantheon. The revelation was one of the most striking insights into the history of ancient Egyptian culture. Soon after the opening of the burial chamber of Tutankhamun’s tomb, the press started to write about the Curse of King Tut. On the walls of the tomb, archeologists reported that they had found a text from the ancient Egyptian Book of the Dead. Roughly translated, it reads “Death shall come on speedy wings to those who disturb the peace of the Pharaoh”. It was reported that a King Cobra, a symbol of King Tut, killed Lord Carnarvon’s pet canary on the day the burial chamber was opened. Within a year Lord Carnarvon died due to a mysterious mosquito bite on his left cheek which got infected – the approximate location where King Tut was believed to have been hurt before his death.

The Pharaoh’s scarab bracelet bore the words, “Cursed be he who moves my body. To him shall come fire, water and pestilence.” This was gifted by carter to Sir Bruce Ingham, his friend. Ingham’s home was destroyed by a fire soon after. After it was rebuilt, a flood destroyed it again. Howard Carter, though a complete skeptic, reported sighting jackals similar to Anubis (ancient Egyptian the guardian of the dead) in the desert. Objectivity, however, reminds us that only about 8 of the 58 people present during the opening of King Tut’s sarcophagus died within the next twelve years. Carter himself lived to an age of 64 and died of lymphoma in 1939. You may also like : Hello, Tut. Carter enters the king's tomb, Feb. 16, 1923 - Beaumont Enterprise Hello, Tut. Carter enters the king's tomb, Feb.

16, 1923 By Teresa Mioli Published 1:58 pm, Wednesday, February 16, 2011 Image 1of/36 Close Image 1 of 36 Howard Carter, the archaeologist who discovered Tutankhamun's tomb, is shown examining King Tut's sarcophagus, date unknown. (AP Photo) Howard Carter, the archaeologist who discovered Tutankhamun's tomb, is shown examining King Tut's sarcophagus, date unknown. (AP Photo) Image 2 of 36 This is the gold coffin of Egyptian King Tutankhamun, year unknown. (AP Photo) This is the gold coffin of Egyptian King Tutankhamun, year unknown. (AP Photo) Image 3 of 36 Ancient artifacts are removed during the Cairo, Egypt excavations of the tomb of King Tutankhamen, 1920s. (AP Photo) Ancient artifacts are removed during the Cairo, Egypt excavations of the tomb of King Tutankhamen, 1920s.

(AP Photo) Image 4 of 36 This sarcophagus is among the many treasures excavated from the tomb of King Tutankhamen near Cairo, Egypt, 1920s (AP Photo) This sarcophagus is among the many treasures excavated from the tomb of King Tutankhamen near Cairo, Egypt, 1920s (AP Photo) Image 5 of 36 This is a general view of the exterior of the tomb of Egypt's King Tutankhamen near Cairo, where many ancient treasures have been found, 1920s. (AP Photo) This is a general view of the exterior of the tomb of Egypt's King Tutankhamen near Cairo, where many ancient treasures have been found, 1920s. (AP Photo) Image 6 of 36 This is a sample of the findings in the Cairo, Egypt excavations, of the tomb of King Tutankhamen, circa 1920s. (AP Photo) This is a sample of the findings in the Cairo, Egypt excavations, of the tomb of King Tutankhamen, circa 1920s.

(AP Photo) Image 7 of 36 These blades were among the findings in the Cairo, Egypt excavations of the tomb of King Tutankhamen, 1920s. (AP Photo) These blades were among the findings in the Cairo, Egypt excavations of the tomb of King Tutankhamen, 1920s. (AP Photo) Image 8 of 36 This decoration is among the many treasures excavated from the tomb of King Tutankhamen near Cairo, Egypt, 1920s (AP Photo) This decoration is among the many treasures excavated from the tomb of King Tutankhamen near Cairo, Egypt, 1920s (AP Photo) Image 9 of 36 These are some of the findings uncovered during the excavation of the tomb of King Tutankhamen near Cairo, Egypt, 1920s. (AP Photo) These are some of the findings uncovered during the excavation of the tomb of King Tutankhamen near Cairo, Egypt, 1920s.

(AP Photo) Image 10 of 36 This headdress was among the findings in the Cairo, Egypt excavations of the tomb of King Tutankhamen, 1920s. (AP Photo) (AP Photo) This headdress was among the findings in the Cairo, Egypt excavations of the tomb of King Tutankhamen, 1920s. (AP Photo) (AP Photo) Image 11 of 36 This is one of the many findings in the excavations in Cairo, Egypt of the tomb of King Tutankhamen, 1920s. (AP Photo) This is one of the many findings in the excavations in Cairo, Egypt of the tomb of King Tutankhamen, 1920s. (AP Photo) Image 12 of 36 This is a close up view of the tomb of the King Tutankhamun, who ruled Egypt from 1358 to 1350 B.C.E., seen Dec. 20, 1922, in Luxor, Egypt.

(AP Photo) This is a close up view of the tomb of the King Tutankhamun, who ruled Egypt from 1358 to 1350 B.C.E., seen Dec. 20, 1922, in Luxor, Egypt. (AP Photo) Image 13 of 36 Ancient artifacts are removed during the Cairo, Egypt excavations of the tomb of King Tutankhamen, Feb. 1923. (AP Photo) Ancient artifacts are removed during the Cairo, Egypt excavations of the tomb of King Tutankhamen, Feb. 1923. (AP Photo) Image 14 of 36 Some of the treasures inside the tomb of King Tut are seen at Luxor, Egypt, 1923. (AP Photo) Some of the treasures inside the tomb of King Tut are seen at Luxor, Egypt, 1923. (AP Photo) Image 15 of 36 Workmen remove an object from the tomb of King Tut in the Valley of the Kings, Luxor, Egypt, Feb. 1923.

(AP Photo) Workmen remove an object from the tomb of King Tut in the Valley of the Kings, Luxor, Egypt, Feb. 1923. (AP Photo) Image 16 of 36 This is the canopic shrine of King Tut, containing the jars which contain the viscera of the King, seen Jan. 14, 1927. The shrine of gold is surmounted with glittering solar cobras and adorned on its four sides by the free-standing statuettes of the goddesses Isis, Nepthys, Neith, and Selkit. (AP Photo) less This is the canopic shrine of King Tut, containing the jars which contain the viscera of the King, seen Jan. 14, 1927. The shrine of gold is surmounted with glittering solar cobras and adorned on its four sides ... more Image 17 of 36 The entrance to the tomb of King Tut, right, center, lies in front of a tourist center in Egypt's Valley of the Kings, Luxor, July 16, 1979. Archaeologist John Romer fears the possibility of a Nile flood covering the valley floor. (AP Photo/Nicolas B.

Tatro) less The entrance to the tomb of King Tut, right, center, lies in front of a tourist center in Egypt's Valley of the Kings, Luxor, July 16, 1979. Archaeologist John Romer fears the possibility of a Nile flood ... more Image 18 of 36 This is the entrance to the tomb of King Tutankhamun at Luxor, Egypt, May 1950. (AP Photo/Ham Wright) This is the entrance to the tomb of King Tutankhamun at Luxor, Egypt, May 1950. (AP Photo/Ham Wright) Image 19 of 36 Barbara Hall of the University of Chicago and Yale Kneeland unpack the treasures of King Tut in New Orleans, Sept. 6, 1977. (AP Photo) Barbara Hall of the University of Chicago and Yale Kneeland unpack the treasures of King Tut in New Orleans, Sept. 6, 1977.

(AP Photo) Image 20 of 36 The entrance to the tomb of King Tut, right, center, lies in front of a tourist center in Egypt's Valley of the Kings, Luxor, July 16, 1979. Archaeologist John Romer fears the possibility of a Nile flood covering the valley floor. (AP Photo/Nicolas B. Tatro) less The entrance to the tomb of King Tut, right, center, lies in front of a tourist center in Egypt's Valley of the Kings, Luxor, July 16, 1979. Archaeologist John Romer fears the possibility of a Nile flood ... more Image 21 of 36 The golden death mask of King Tut reclines before gold-colored wall paintings that are rapidly eroding due to a recently identified bacteria, Nov. 24, 1988. Egyptian specialists are trying to stop the spread of the bacteria in one of the most-visited tourist sites. (AP Photo/Mimi Mann) less The golden death mask of King Tut reclines before gold-colored wall paintings that are rapidly eroding due to a recently identified bacteria, Nov. 24, 1988.

Egyptian specialists are trying to stop the spread of ... more Image 22 of 36 This is a July 1996 picture of the famed and priceless golden mask of King Tut-ankh-amen, which was in the King's room at the Egyptian Museum in Cairo, Egypt when a robbery occured Tuesday night, September 10, 1996. A penniless man spent the night in the museum, pried open a case of King Tut's priceless treasures and stuffed the gold jewelry in his pockets and socks. He told guards who caught him red-handed Wednesday that he was just fixing the plumbing. Police said he later confessed, claiming that hewas inspired by the 1966 film "How to Steal a Million." (AP Photo/Mohamed El-Dakhakhny) less This is a July 1996 picture of the famed and priceless golden mask of King Tut-ankh-amen, which was in the King's room at the Egyptian Museum in Cairo, Egypt when a robbery occured Tuesday night, September 10, ...

more Image 23 of 36 "The Falcon Collar," the collar wrapped around the neck of Tutankhamun's mummy, is shown at the opening of the King Tut exhibit Thursday, Dec. 15, 2005, at the Museum of Art in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. The exhibit opened its doors at the second of four venues, and the only southeast destination, during its 27-month tour of the United States. (AP Photo/Alan Diaz) less "The Falcon Collar," the collar wrapped around the neck of Tutankhamun's mummy, is shown at the opening of the King Tut exhibit Thursday, Dec. 15, 2005, at the Museum of Art in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. The exhibit ... more Image 24 of 36 A viscera coffin is shown at the opening of the King Tut exhibit Thursday, Dec. 15, 2005 at the Museum of Art in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. The exhibit opened its doors at the second of four venues during its 27-month tour of the United States and the only southeast destination.

(AP Photo/Alan Diaz) less A viscera coffin is shown at the opening of the King Tut exhibit Thursday, Dec. 15, 2005 at the Museum of Art in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. The exhibit opened its doors at the second of four venues during its ... more Image 25 of 36 A picture released by Egyptian antiquities authority showing CT scan done Wednesday, Jan.5, 2005 on King Tut's mummy, the 3,300-year-old mummy of the ancient King Tutankhamun in Luxor, southern Egypt. Zahi Hawass , Egypt's top archaeologist , said Tuesday, March 8, 2005 that the results of CT scan on King Tut's mummy indicate he was not murdered, but may have suffered a badly broken leg shortly before his death. (AP Photo/HO/ Supreme Council of Antiquities) less A picture released by Egyptian antiquities authority showing CT scan done Wednesday, Jan.5, 2005 on King Tut's mummy, the 3,300-year-old mummy of the ancient King Tutankhamun in Luxor, southern Egypt. Zahi ...

more Image 26 of 36 A picture distributed by Egyptian antiquities authority showing CT scan done Wednesday, Jan.5, 2005 of the skull of King Tut's mummy, the 3,300-year-old mummy of the ancient King Tutankhamun in Luxor, southern Egypt. Zahi Hawass , Egypt's top archaeologist , said Tuesday, March 8, 2005 that the results of CT scan on King Tut's mummy indicate he was not murdered, but may have suffered a badly broken leg shortly before his death. (AP Photo/HO/ Supreme Council of Antiquities) less A picture distributed by Egyptian antiquities authority showing CT scan done Wednesday, Jan.5, 2005 of the skull of King Tut's mummy, the 3,300-year-old mummy of the ancient King Tutankhamun in Luxor, southern ... more Image 27 of 36 "The Falcon Collar," the collar wrapped around the neck of Tutankhamun's mummy, is shown at the opening of the King Tut exhibit Thursday, Dec.

15, 2005, at the Museum of Art in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. The exhibit opened its doors at the second of four venues, and the only southeast destination, during its 27-month tour of the United States. (AP Photo/Alan Diaz) less "The Falcon Collar," the collar wrapped around the neck of Tutankhamun's mummy, is shown at the opening of the King Tut exhibit Thursday, Dec. 15, 2005, at the Museum of Art in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. The exhibit ... more Image 28 of 36 The handle of an elaborate cosmetic spoon made of wood with gold and paint, is displayed Wednesday, May 24, 2006, in Chicago at a preview of The Field Museum's new exhibit "Tutankhamun and the Golden Age of the Pharaohs." Here only the handle survives, shaped like a female swimmer which was a popular design during the 18th dynasty when King Tut ruled. (AP Photo/M.

Spencer Green) less The handle of an elaborate cosmetic spoon made of wood with gold and paint, is displayed Wednesday, May 24, 2006, in Chicago at a preview of The Field Museum's new exhibit "Tutankhamun and the Golden Age of the ... more Image 29 of 36 A photo released by the Supreme Council of Antiquities and the National Geographic Society on May 10, 2005 shows a model of King Tutankhamun made by a French team based on facial reconstructions from CT scans of King Tutankhamun's mummy. Teams of forensic artists and scientists built models of the boy pharaoh's face based on some 1,700 high-resolution photos from CT scans of his mummy to reveal what he looked like the day he died nearly 3,300 years ago. The linen wrapped mummy of King Tut was put on public display for the first time on Sunday, Nov. 4, 2007, 85 years after the 3,000-year-old boy pharaoh's golden enshrined tomb and mummy were discovered in Luxor's famed Valley of the Kings.

(AP Photo/Supreme Council of Antiquities and the National Geographic Society, HO) less A photo released by the Supreme Council of Antiquities and the National Geographic Society on May 10, 2005 shows a model of King Tutankhamun made by a French team based on facial reconstructions from CT scans ... more Image 30 of 36 A wood mannequin depicting King Tutankhamun as a young boy is seen after installation at the Franklin Institute in Philadelphia Tuesday Jan. 23, 2007. The more than 3000-year-old mannequin is part of an extensive collection of more than 130 items from the tomb of King Tut and other Valley of the Kings tombs that will be on view at The Franklin Institute Feb. 3 through Sept. 30, 2007. (AP Photo/Jacqueline Larma) less A wood mannequin depicting King Tutankhamun as a young boy is seen after installation at the Franklin Institute in Philadelphia Tuesday Jan. 23, 2007. The more than 3000-year-old mannequin is part of an ...

more Image 31 of 36 A wood mannequin depicting King Tutankhamun as a young boy is seen after installation at the Franklin Institute in Philadelphia Tuesday Jan. 23, 2007. The more than 3000-year-old mannequin is part of an extensive collection of more than 130 items from the tomb of King Tut and other Valley of the Kings tombs that will be on view at The Franklin Institute Feb. 3 through Sept. 30, 2007. (AP Photo/Jacqueline Larma) less A wood mannequin depicting King Tutankhamun as a young boy is seen after installation at the Franklin Institute in Philadelphia Tuesday Jan. 23, 2007. The more than 3000-year-old mannequin is part of an ... more Image 32 of 36 This photo released by the Dallas Museum of Art shows Jessica Beasley looking at the Nested Fetus Coffins at a media event Wednesday, Oct.

1, 2008 at the Dallas Museum of Art as it prepares for the public opening of "Tutankhamun and the Golden Age of the Pharaohs", the exhibition which drew nearly 4 million visitors during its initial four-city U. S. tour, in Dallas. The touring exhibition opens to the public in Dallas on Friday, October 3. (AP Photo/Mike Stone) less This photo released by the Dallas Museum of Art shows Jessica Beasley looking at the Nested Fetus Coffins at a media event Wednesday, Oct. 1, 2008 at the Dallas Museum of Art as it prepares for the public ... more Image 33 of 36 Two of Egypt's famed King Tutankhamun's golden sarcophagus are displayed at the Egyptian Museum in Cairo, Egypt, Wednesday, Feb.17, 2010.

Two years of DNA testing and CT scans on King Tutankhamun's 3,300-year-old mummy and 15 others have provided the cause of death and the firmest family tree yet for Tut - pointing to Pharaoh Akhenaten as Tut's father, Akhenaten's sister as Tut's mother, and Queen Tiye as Tut's grandmother. (AP Photo/Amr Nabil) less Two of Egypt's famed King Tutankhamun's golden sarcophagus are displayed at the Egyptian Museum in Cairo, Egypt, Wednesday, Feb.17, 2010. Two years of DNA testing and CT scans on King Tutankhamun's ... more Image 34 of 36 In this photo released by the Discovery Channel, mummies from foreground to background, King Tut's mother, King Tut's grandmother, and King Tut's father, are displayed for media during a press conference with Egypt's top archaeologist Zahi Hawass, unseen, at the Egyptian Museum in Cairo, Egypt Wednesday, Feb. 17, 2010.

Two years of DNA testing and CT scans on King Tutankhamun's 3,300-year-old mummy and 15 others have provided the cause of death and the firmest family tree yet for Tut - pointing to Pharaoh Akhenaten as Tut's father, Akhenaten's sister as Tut's mother, and Queen Tiye as Tut's grandmother. (AP Photo/Discovery Channel, Shawn Baldwin) less In this photo released by the Discovery Channel, mummies from foreground to background, King Tut's mother, King Tut's grandmother, and King Tut's father, are displayed for media during a press conference with ... more Image 35 of 36 The calcite lid for a canopic container that held King Tut's organs is installed February 10 at the Science Museum of Minnesota in preparation for the February 18 opening of "Tutankhamun: The Golden King and the Great Pharaohs," an exhibition of treasures from the tomb of King Tut and other ancient Egyptian sites. The exhibition is organized by National Geographic, Arts and Exhibitions International and AEG Exhibitions, with cooperation from the Egyptian Supreme Council of Antiquities.

(PRNewsFoto/Science Museum of Minnesota) less The calcite lid for a canopic container that held King Tut's organs is installed February 10 at the Science Museum of Minnesota in preparation for the February 18 opening of "Tutankhamun: The Golden King and ... more Image 36 of 36 The AE Blog: 16 February 1923: Carter opens tomb of King Tut Experience the world with us Thursday, February 16, 2012 16 February 1923: Carter opens tomb of King Tut On this day in 1923, in Thebes, Egypt , English archaeologist Howard Carter enters the sealed burial chamber of the ancient Egyptian ruler King Tutankhamen . Because the ancient Egyptians saw their pharaohs as gods, they carefully preserved their bodies after death, burying them in elaborate tombs containing rich treasures to accompany the rulers into the afterlife. In the 19th century, archeologists from all over the world flocked to Egypt , where they uncovered a number of these tombs. Many had long ago been broken into by robbers and stripped of their riches.

When Carter arrived in Egypt in 1891, he became convinced there was at least one undiscovered tomb--that of the little known Tutankhamen , or King Tut, who lived around 1400 B.C. and died when he was still a teenager. Backed by a rich Brit, Lord Carnarvon, Carter searched for five years without success. In early 1922, Lord Carnarvon wanted to call off the search, but Carter convinced him to hold on one more year. In November 1922, the wait paid off, when Carter's team found steps hidden in the debris near the entrance of another tomb. The steps led to an ancient sealed doorway bearing the name Tutankhamen . When Carter and Lord Carnarvon entered the tomb's interior chambers on November 26, they were thrilled to find it virtually intact, with its treasures untouched after more than 3,000 years. The men began exploring the four rooms of the tomb, and on February 16, 1923, under the watchful eyes of a number of important officials, Carter opened the door to the last chamber.

Inside lay a sarcophagus with three coffins nested inside one another. The last coffin, made of solid gold, contained the mummified body of King Tut. Among the riches found in the tomb--golden shrines, jewelry, statues, a chariot, weapons, clothing--the perfectly preserved mummy was the most valuable, as it was the first one ever to be discovered. Despite rumors that a curse would befall anyone who disturbed the tomb, its treasures were carefully catalogued, removed and included in a famous traveling exhibition called the "Treasures of Tutankhamen." The exhibition's permanent home is the Egyptian Museum in Cairo. Reactions: February 16, 1923: 'Glint of gold, everywhere' as the tomb of Tutankhamen is opened - BT February 16, 1923: 'Glint of gold, everywhere' as the tomb of Tutankhamen is opened Howard Carter uncovered an 3,000-year-old Egyptian treasure trove when he opened the doors of Tutankhamen’s tomb on this day in 1923.

Print this story Egyptologist Howard Carter uncovered one of the most stunning archaeological finds of the 20th century on this day in 1923 when he opened the burial chamber of Tutankhamen, a pharaoh who had ruled in the country around 1400 BC. Most of the tombs hitherto uncovered in Luxor’s Valley of the Kings had long since been stripped of any treasures, but Carter’s persistence paid off with the discovery of Tutankhamen’s virtually untouched tomb the previous November. It was a vindication for the Englishman whose work in the Valley had been financed by Lord Carnarvon since 1914, but was threatened by the removal of funding if no tangible results were found in this final season of digs. Carter, accompanied by Carnarvon and his daughter Evelyn (pictured above), opened the sealed doors to the tomb on November 26, and were excited to find that the many treasures buried with the boy king more than 3,000 years earlier were still in place and largely intact.

The tomb contained four separate rooms, two of which had at some point been broken into and resealed, yet there remained within them an array of artefacts – jewellery, statues, weapons, clothing – and, as Carter put it, “everywhere, the glint of gold”. On February 16, he opened the final of the four rooms – the burial chamber itself. Inside they found a sarcophagus containing three coffins nested inside one another. The smallest of these – made of solid gold – contained the mummified body of Tutankhamen. The clearance of the tomb and recording and preserving of the thousands of antiquities would continue until 1930. Many of them would form the basis of an exhibition which toured the world many years later. When the exhibition came to the British Museum in London in 1972, people queued for up to eight hours to get a glimpse of the treasures uncovered by Carter some 50 years earlier. Have you seen the Tutankhamen artefacts? Do you think they should be exhibited in this country again? Let us know in the Comments section below. Tutankhamen’s tomb – Did you know? Another archaeologist, Theodore M.

Davis, had found some artefacts in an earlier dig inscribed with Tutankhamen’s name and assumed that the site at which they were found was the remains of his tomb; in fact, it was at a nearby but totally different site. Tutankhamun's tomb had in fact been entered at least twice by robbers long before its discovery by Carter, but its inner two shrines remained intact and sealed. On April 5, Lord Carnarvon died from blood poisoning arising from an infected mosquito bite. Two weeks before he died, a letter published in New York World magazine asserted that "dire punishment" would follow any intrusion into a sealed tomb. The media began speculating on a ‘Curse of the Pharoahs’, even though no such curse had been found in the tomb; even Sir Arthur Conan Doyle suggested that Lord Carnarvon's death had been caused by "elementals" created by priests to guard the royal tomb. In fact, of the 58 people who were present at the opening of the sarcophagus, only eight died within the next dozen years. Carter himself died in 1939, aged 64.

The Treasures of Tutankhamen exhibition that opened in London in March 1972 was the most popular in the history of the British Museum. Over 1,650,000 visited the exhibition before it closed in December of the same year. The artefacts that made up the exhibition now permanently reside in Cairo Museum. While the Tomb of Tutankhamen remains open to visitors in the Valley of the Kings, it is expected to be closed for good for preservation purposes when the creation of a replica via 3D scanning is completed. PHOTOS: On this day — Feb. 16, 1923 — King Tut's tomb opened - The Middletown Press Media Center Share Search This undated file photo shows Howard Carter, the archaeologist who discovered King Tutankhamun's tomb, examining King Tut's sarcophagus. Egypt's famed King Tutankhamun suffered from a cleft palate and club foot, likely forcing him to walk with a cane, and died from complications from a broken leg exacerbated by malaria, according to the most extensive study ever of his mummy.

(AP Photo/File) This sarcophagus was among the findings in the Cairo, Egypt excavations of the tomb of King Tutankhamen, 1920s. (AP Photo) Ancient artifacts are removed during the Cairo, Egypt excavations of the tomb of King Tutankhamen, 1920s. (AP Photo) This sarcophagus is among the many treasures excavated from the tomb of King Tutankhamen near Cairo, Egypt, 1920s (AP Photo) Ancient artifacts are removed during the Cairo, Egypt excavations of the tomb of King Tutankhamen, Feb. 1923. (AP Photo) This decoration is among the many treasures excavated from the tomb of King Tutankhamen near Cairo, Egypt, 1920s (AP Photo) These are some of the findings uncovered during the excavation of the tomb of King Tutankhamen near Cairo, Egypt, 1920s. (AP Photo) This is a general view of the exterior of the tomb of Egypt's King Tutankhamen near Cairo, where many ancient treasures have been found, 1920s.

(AP Photo) This is one of the many findings in the excavations in Cairo, Egypt of the tomb of King Tutankhamen, 1920s. (AP Photo) This headdress was among the findings in the Cairo, Egypt excavations of the tomb of King Tutankhamen, 1920s. (AP Photo) (AP Photo) These blades were among the findings in the Cairo, Egypt excavations of the tomb of King Tutankhamen, 1920s. (AP Photo) This is a sample of the findings in the Cairo, Egypt excavations, of the tomb of King Tutankhamen, circa 1920s. (AP Photo) ‹ This Day In History – Andreas Johansson February 16, 1923: Archaeologist opens tomb of King Tut On this day in 1923, in Thebes, Egypt, English archaeologist Howard Carter enters the sealed burial chamber of the ancient Egyptian ruler King Tutankhamen. Because the ancient Egyptians saw their pharaohs as gods, they carefully preserved their bodies after death, burying them in elaborate tombs containing rich treasures to accompany the rulers into the afterlife.

In the 19th century, archeologists from all over the world flocked to Egypt, where they uncovered a number of these tombs. Many had long ago been broken into by robbers and stripped of their riches. When Carter arrived in Egypt in 1891, he became convinced there was at least one undiscovered tomb–that of the little known Tutankhamen, or King Tut, who lived around 1400 B.C. and died when he was still a teenager. Backed by a rich Brit, Lord Carnarvon, Carter searched for five years without success. In early 1922, Lord Carnarvon wanted to call off the search, but Carter convinced him to hold on one more year. In November 1922, the wait paid off, when Carter’s team found steps hidden in the debris near the entrance of another tomb. The steps led to an ancient sealed doorway bearing the name Tutankhamen. When Carter and Lord Carnarvon entered the tomb’s interior chambers on November 26, they were thrilled to find it virtually intact, with its treasures untouched after more than 3,000 years.

The men began exploring the four rooms of the tomb, and on February 16, 1923, under the watchful eyes of a number of important officials, Carter opened the door to the last chamber. Inside lay a sarcophagus with three coffins nested inside one another. The last coffin, made of solid gold, contained the mummified body of King Tut. Among the riches found in the tomb–golden shrines, jewelry, statues, a chariot, weapons, clothing–the perfectly preserved mummy was the most valuable, as it was the first one ever to be discovered. Despite rumors that a curse would befall anyone who disturbed the tomb, its treasures were carefully catalogued, removed and included in a famous traveling exhibition called the “Treasures of Tutankhamen.” The exhibition’s permanent home is the Egyptian Museum in Cairo.

Question: On Feb 16, 1923, archeologist Howard Carter uncovered the tomb of whom?
Answer: Tutankhamun